Jiang Cheng stood up slowly, his body still feeling slightly stiff from the poison's lingering effects. He clenched and unclenched his fists, examining his hands and limbs carefully. "Not bad," he murmured to himself, his voice calm yet laced with curiosity. The memories from the original owner of this body had started to settle in, bringing with them fragments of basic spells.

Jiang activated the Spirit Cleansing Technique, letting the Qi circulate through his pores, removing the stickiness of sweat and leaving behind a refreshing sensation. His body felt lighter, rejuvenated.

With a faint smile, He raised his hand and muttered the incantation for the Dust Removing Technique. A faint shimmer of Qi spread over his body, lifting the grime and dust from his clothes and skin. His once-dull robe now looked clean, almost fresh. He gave a satisfied nod.

Next, he tried the Fabric Freshening Art. A subtle breeze, infused with the wood element, swept through his robe. The faint floral scent it left behind was soothing, even uplifting. "Much better," he mused, enjoying the slight elegance it added to his otherwise handsome appearance.

He then turned his attention to his long black hair, disheveled from days of neglect. The Hair Tidying Spell was simple yet effective. His unruly strands aligned neatly, flowing down his back like a glossy waterfall. With a few loose strands tucked neatly behind his ear, Jiang inspected himself in a small, cracked mirror hanging by the wall.

He tilted his head slightly, studying his reflection. His pale complexion from the poison had started to fade, revealing sharp, handsome features. His deep, dark eyes held a calm yet piercing look, and the faint floral scent only added to his charm. He smirked. "Just one word—handsome."

Satisfied, Jiang stretched his body lightly, feeling far more presentable than before. "If nothing else, at least I can look decent.

As Jiang Cheng tested each spell, something peculiar caught his attention. The techniques he cast felt far too natural, as if his body instinctively knew what to do. The Qi in his dantian flowed smoothly, obeying his every whim without resistance. His brows furrowed for a moment before realization dawned on him—his understanding was terrifyingly high. He wasn’t just casting these spells; he was mastering them on his first attempt!

"How could it be this easy?" Jiang muttered to himself. He vividly recalled the fragmented memories of the original owner struggling with even the most basic techniques, often failing multiple times before getting them right. Yet here he was, casting them as effortlessly as breathing.

Then, as he finished the last spell, a sudden and strange sensation rippled through his body. It was subtle at first, like a faint vibration deep within his bones. But within moments, he felt it clearly—a shackle breaking apart.

A surge of energy coursed through him, warm and invigorating. His Qi, previously sluggish and unremarkable, now felt vibrant and alive. His eyes widened as he inspected his dantian and meridians. The once-limited flow of Qi had become wide and unrestricted. It was as if a barrier had been lifted.

More astonishingly, Jiang Cheng felt a strange certainty—a confidence that he could break through to the next level of Qi Refining with ease. It felt so natural, so effortless, it was almost laughable.

"This... this is impossible!" he murmured, clenching his fists. The original owner's pseudo spirit roots should have made cultivation a nightmare, with slow progress and countless obstacles. Yet now, it felt as simple as drinking water or eating rice. "Don't tell me..."

A sly grin crept onto Jiang Cheng's face, his mind racing. "Hahaha!" He nearly laughed out loud but quickly covered his mouth, forcing himself to remain calm. "Could it be that the original owner had some kind of terrifying physique hidden within his body? Some supreme treasure, maybe? And he die like that, what a waste of natural resources, He probably didn’t even realize what he had!"

His eyes sparkled with excitement as another thought struck him. "Or maybe..." He glanced down at his hands, clenching and unclenching them. "When my soul traveled through time and space, those high-level cosmic energies must have awakened this hidden potential. Hahaha! It seems the heavens have finally smiled upon me!"

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Jiang paced around the room, trying to suppress his giddy excitement. His grin, however, was impossible to hide. "This is no ordinary second chance. No, this is fate bending to my will!"

He struck a dramatic pose in front of the mirror, hands clasped behind his back and a mock-serious expression on his face. "They say fortune favors the bold. This young master destined to become a Great Emperor"

The more he thought about it, the more smug he became. He couldn’t resist letting out a quiet chuckle. "Hahaha! To think this body—no, my body is destined for greatness. Whatever physique this is, I'll uncover its secrets. And when I do, this world will tremble beneath my feet!"

As he regained his composure, Jiang Cheng took a deep breath, his excitement simmering beneath the surface. " Alright," he muttered to himself. " First things first. Let’s confirm if this newfound strength is real. After all, the heavens may smile on me, but I’m not about to take their blessing for granted."

With his head held high and a mischievous gleam in his eye, Jiang Cheng strode toward the door. The market awaited, and he had a sudden urge to test his luck and maybe flaunt his newfound confidence. "Let’s see what the world has to offer someone destined for immortality!"

He opened the door cautiously, his earlier arrogance dissipating like smoke in the wind. Jiang Cheng chuckled to himself. "A genius who grows arrogant dies young," he muttered, recalling countless tales from the novels he had read in his past life. Those so-called "heavenly prodigies" often met tragic ends, victims of their own hubris.

"I won't be one of them," he promised himself. "Stay low, act cautious, and let others think you're ordinary. A tiger that hides its claws lives longer. "

Reaching for his belongings, Jiang picked up the broken straw hat lying by the door. It was old and battered, with frayed edges and a crack that let the sunlight peek through. Still, it served its purpose—hiding his face and keeping unwanted attention away. Placing it on his head, he adjusted it slightly until his face was obscured in shadow.

Satisfied, Jiang stepped out into the sunlight, letting the gentle breeze sweep across his freshly cleaned robes. The road stretched ahead, winding through a few scattered houses and fields before disappearing into the distant market.

"A mile away," he murmured to himself, gauging the distance. His steps were steady, his gaze alert as he moved. Though he looked calm, his heart remained guarded. After all, the original owner had been poisoned—he couldn’t rule out the possibility of danger lurking nearby.

As Jiang Cheng walked along the dirt path, enjoying the fresh morning air and the faint floral scent lingering on his robes, he suddenly heard a familiar, shrill voice calling out.

* “Jiang Cheng! Jiang Cheng, you lazy boy, wait up!” *

His heart sank immediately. Turning his head, he saw Aunt Zhang, the neighborhood busybody, waddling toward him with surprising speed for someone her age. Her round face was red from exertion, but her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm—the kind of enthusiasm that always spelled trouble.

“Oh no,” Jiang muttered under his breath. “Not her… Anyone but her!”

Before he could make a hasty retreat, Aunt Zhang had already closed the distance, grabbing his arm with the grip of a spirit beast. "Where do you think you're going, young man? Off to the market, eh? Planning to waste more money on useless nonsense, aren’t you?"

Jiang forced a polite smile, trying to tug his arm free without being too obvious.

"Ah, Aunt Zhang. What a pleasant surprise! Just going to buy some essentials, nothing extravagant."

Aunt Zhang squinted at him, her expression skeptical., "Essentials? Hah! You call buying those useless talismans and herbs 'essentials'? What you need, Jiang Cheng, is a wife!"

Jiang froze. "A... wife?"

Aunt Zhang nodded vigorously, her cheeks jiggling with excitement. "Yes! A wife! Someone to keep you in line and make sure you stop wandering around like some aimless rooster! Lucky for you, I’ve already found the perfect match!"

Jiang’s polite smile cracked. "Perfect match? Aunt Zhang, I—"

"Don’t interrupt your elders, boy!" she scolded, wagging her finger in his face. "Her name is Mei Ling, the hunter's daughter. Sweet girl, hardworking, and knows how to cook! And best of all, she’s not picky! Even someone like you, with your patchy straw hat and poor cultivation, stands a chance!"

Jiang’s eye twitched. "Even someone like me? Aunt Zhang, I—"

"Oh, stop being so shy," she said, waving his protests away as if they were flies. "I already spoke to her parents, and they’re open to the idea. Why don’t you come by for dinner tonight? I’ll make the introductions! Mei Ling even said she doesn’t mind that you’re a bit... uh, how do I put it? Unremarkable."

Jiang felt a vein throb in his forehead. "Unremarkable? Aunt Zhang, with all due respect—"

"Oh, don’t act so proud!" she interrupted again, her voice louder now. "You’re not getting any younger, and let’s face it, your looks won’t carry you forever! If you don’t settle down soon, you’ll end up like Old Liu—living alone with only a chicken for company!"

At this point, Jiang could barely suppress his laughter. Aunt Zhang’s words were as sharp as ever, but he couldn’t help finding the situation absurd. Taking a deep breath, he decided to play along.

"You’re right, Aunt Zhang," he said, nodding solemnly. "I’ve been so foolish, wasting my time on trivial things when I should be thinking about my future. Mei Ling, you say? A fine name. I’ll consider it."

Aunt Zhang’s face lit up with triumph. "Now that’s the spirit! I’ll tell her parents to prepare a feast tonight. And don’t you dare run off, Jiang Cheng, or I’ll hunt you down myself!"

As she bustled away, muttering excitedly about dowries and wedding dates, Jiang shook his head with a wry smile. "Matchmaking aunties—truly the most fearsome creatures in any world."

With a chuckle, he adjusted his straw hat and continued toward the market, feeling lighter than before. Life in this new world might be full of dangers, but moments like these reminded him that it could also be unexpectedly entertaining.

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